Application of fire engineering to assist disadvantaged minority in enhancing building fire safety

Abstract

To protect occupants from the dangers of fire in domestic buildings, the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap 572) was enacted in 2002. The statute requires that the owners and occupiers of buildings used for domestic purposes where the first building plans were submitted during or before 1987 upgrade their fire safety provision to the 1994 standard. However, structural constraints in existing buildings prevent owners from installing heavy fire service installations (FSIs). Furthermore, installing FSIs in communal areas involves financial and property rights issues which may be insurmountable in nature. From this perspective, it is difficult for occupiers of these buildings, particularly the elderly and those on a low income, to enhance fire safety due to financial and technical burden and therefore they cannot enjoy the benefits of upgraded fire safety provision. Nevertheless, with reference to the proven effectiveness of an improvised sprinkler system (i.e. one which uses direct town main supplies and thus does not require the installation of water tanks and pumps) as an alternative to conventional sprinkler systems, this paper explores the technical feasibility of accepting an improvised hose reel (HR) system as an alternative to conventional HR systems.

Keywords:

• building fire safety
• fire service installations
• fire safety hydraulics
• fire safety regulations
• construction economics

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the FSD. This paper has been submitted as an entry for the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Young Engineers/Researchers 2015.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tsz Kit Yue

Notes on contributor

Mr YUE Tsz Kit possessed a B.Sc. degree in Surveying and a M.Sc. degree in Fire Safety Engineering. He obtained full membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) in 2014. He has been working in the Fire Services Department since 2006. He has been posted to several busiest fire stations in Hong Kong and was explored to various firefighting culture of the city. Mr YUE is now posted at the New Projects Division of the Fire Safety Command and is responsible for vetting building plans and fire engineering reports on performance-based design.